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Can't Sleep Too Scared To

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Nicole0317

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I've been having nightmares for a long time and they just keep getting worse and keep happening more often. To the point where I'm to scared to go to sleep. And when I can't sleep guess what going threw my head everything I don't want to think about. So either way I'm basically stuck terrified
Anyone else feel this way??
 
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<grin> Not lately!

A few months ago I got all pissed off, instead of freaked out, and rolled back over to finish the durn thing. Stupid nightmare. You wanna run? Fine. Run all night long. I'm not gonna get up. I'm freaking tired. So I turned back over, and went back to sleep. I wish I could say that cured my nightmares, or when I do that I get peaceful sleep. It didn't. I don't. I still have them, almost every night. I still wake up soaked in swear (or sweat, the autocorrect was damn accurate, there), or all het up, or sideways mentally. There are times I wake up, like this morning, and I'm too amped up to sleep, so 2 hours it is! :wtf: But most of the time I simply wake up, pee or take care of any other pressing concerns if I need to, and go back to sleep.

This has happened before, too. Where I just get all sick and tired of being afraid, and get angry instead. Or even mildly annoyed. Once that switch happens? I still have nightmares. I may still be terrified in them. But I'm no longer terrified of them.

Have I been too afraid of my dreams to sleep? Absolutely. I've stayed up days, done nothing but cat nap, drunk myself sick, drugged myself senseless, anything I could think of to avoid them. But not lately.
 
I'm only 14 can't go run or do anything but lay in bed can't even walk around my room otherwise my parents will hear me and they know I have nightmares and are constantly telling me that they will come up to be with me or whatever but that would just make it worse I start walking around or do anything beside nothing then she will call me to ask me if I had a nightmare or whatever which I don't want her to do so yea I'm stuck when it comes to trying to distract myself @FridayJones
 
If you're looking for things to distract yourself? Whilst not getting out of bed? Try googling "bed rest activities" & similar. Or children's hospitals. Pregnant moms are often confined to bed (sometimes not even allowed up to pee, but usually they are allowed out of bed at least to do that if nothing else) for up to 6 months... And the boredom -and ways to distract themselves from losing their ever lovin minds- has spawned some really creative lists. And sick kids? Even more things.

A few things one can do alone in the dark without electronics : friendship bracelets / hemp bracelets & necklaces (tie end to headboard or your own foot), braiding your hair or dreadlocks if you don't have hemp. Write stories (in your head), fingerings for musical instruments, push-ups, certain forms of stretching or yoga, certain forms of dance (think pop'n'lock), meditate, sing pianissimo, practice a foreign language, practice accents, learn to twist your tongue upside down, rosaries to pray, poems and plays to rehearse, smells to remember, textures to feel, math problems to posit, keigles to clench, origami to fold (with real paper or even imaginary paper)... Loads of things to do alone in the dark in silence or near silence. Been there. Done that.

If you can have even a little bit of light? Worlds of things to do. Books to read, art to draw, letters to write, ransom notes to cut out, nails to paint, things to sew, games to play... Whole worlds of things to explore. With even just a pen light.
 
Thanks I can do some this except for anything that involves well doing anything but walking just had surgery a month or two ago can't do any exercises sadly but might be able to do one of the other things you listed but I also have sibling and rooms next to me do have to be very quiet
 
Yes! Do you see a psychiatrist, Nicole? There's a medication called Prazosin which helps with nightmares. It's actually a blood pressure med, but for some reason it helps with nightmares. It used to help me, but stopped working, so my psych switched me to clonidine, another blood pressure med, which also works, except it only works till you wake up. Then your nightmare fades away and you would have to really try to remember it for it to come back, which, obviously, I never do. It can't hurt to ask your doc or psychiatrist about it.
 
Google "diffuse mode" in learning theory and you may get some good ideas for activities to help your mind gear down.
You need to do something repetitive and enjoyable to you - sketching, coloring, knitting/crochet,cross stitch etc. Quiet, relaxing activities that help the mind rest.
Good luck.
 
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